CORSHAM toiled with the bat as they slipped to their third home defeat in a row at the hands of high-flying Taunton St Andrews last weekend.

Ashur Morrison’s side welcomed the Premier One’s second-placed side to Station Road looking to bounce back from their 96-run defeat at Downend seven days previous, but after Taunton’s Ed Byrom fired the visitors into the ascendancy, Corsham were always fighting an uphill battle.

St Andrews won the toss and opted to bat first, with Byrom leading the charge, as he hit 103, finding the boundary 12 times on the way to his century.

Dave Reading (24) and Rob Contreras (23) both managed to support their team-mate, whilst Corsham’s Joe King led the bowling with three wickets, and skipper Morrison taking two.

Tail-ender James Hayman smashed a late unbeaten 31 from just 13 deliveries as Taunton posted 229-8.

In reply, the hosts never really got their run-chase off the ground, with wickets tumbling at regular intervals.

Lloyd Alley was the pick of the visiting bowlers as he ended the afternoon with figures of 4-40, with the St Andrews man accounting for Steve Bullen (18), Dwain Fielding (26), Will Wales and Gabriel Field (both 12).

Number six Sam Collier top-scored for Corsham with a knock of 27 but the hosts were always well behind the run-rate and their innings eventually came to a close midway through the 39th over when they were dismissed for 152.

Saturday’s loss leaves Morrison’s men sixth in the Premier One table, just three points ahead of eighth-placed Bridgwater.

Corsham have won five and lost five of the ten matches in which they’ve taken to the field this season, with a trip to Bristol last month cancelled before a ball was bowled.

They return to Station Road this weekend, with Bridgwater, who beat Corsham by six wickets on May 16, the visitors.